Dededo vice mayor to use paid leave for house arrest

Dededo Vice Mayor Andrew Peter Benavente will use annual paid leave for the 100 calendar days of house arrest he will serve, according to Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares.

She estimated Benavente will use about two months of annual leave.

While on house arrest, Benavente won’t be making decisions or assisting with operations, Savares said. This will “definitely hamper” the office’s operations, she said, but the staff has been cross-trained to do other duties and they will continue to do their work.

A man, his wife and three other family members were exiting a driveway in their vehicle when the man saw Benavente standing on the side of the road holding a rifle, according to court documents. The man drove past Benavente and he reportedly saw, in the driver’s side mirror, the vice mayor point a rifle toward the vehicle, documents state.

“We do what we can with the limited resources we have and he’s never gone astray from that focus.”

Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares

The man’s wife told police she heard the vice mayor say, “You better slow down next time or I am going to shoot you,” according to court documents. The man reported he feared for his safety and his family’s safety.

As part of his guilty plea deal, the terrorizing charge against Benavente will be deferred. After his 100-day house arrest sentence, Benavente will be on probation for three years. He also surrendered his firearms and his firearms identification and is prohibited from consuming drugs or alcohol.

“The incident happened during the time when he wasn’t performing his duties as a vice mayor,” Savares said. “We do what we can with the limited resources we have and he’s never gone astray from that focus.”

Judge Maria Cenzon allowed Benavente’s house arrest to start on June 5, a day after his daughter’s wedding. The vice mayor was compliant with the veterans treatment court program, Cenzon said.

Benavente said previously he will be allowed to finish his term as vice mayor and will step down after 12 years of holding the position.